What is Urban Heat?

Urban heat refers to the phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures compared to surrounding rural areas due to the built environment, human activities, and a lack of vegetation. The urban heat island effect is the most common form of urban heat, where cities experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas. This can lead to a range of negative impacts on public health, energy consumption, and the environment.

How does urban heat impact you?

Urban heat can have a range of negative impacts on public health, including

• heat exhaustion,
• heat stroke, and
• exacerbation of pre-existing health conditions.

The increased use of air conditioning to mitigate the effects of urban heat can also lead to higher energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, urban heat can disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, such as low-income individuals and the elderly, who may not have access to adequate cooling infrastructure.

Who is at Risk?

Those at greatest risk include people:

• In lower income and more densely populated urban neighborhoods
• Who are very old or very young
• With alcohol and drug dependencies
• Who are obese or take certain medications
• Who live and work alone
• Who work outside, like farmers, roofers or landscapers